Friends of Stoneleigh Library

 

At Stoneleigh Library we try and support the whole community by encouraging the use of our library facilities for various activities.

Rhymetimes and Storytimes

Sessions are held weekly on Monday mornings alternating between Rymetime and Storytime. They are free, no need to book, with a maximum of 20 children's places on a first-come first-served basis - just show up and enjoy the songs and stories with your child(ren).

Rhymetimes are aimed at babies, toddlers and preschool children, along with their parents and carers.  The events consist of sharing nursery rhymes, action songs and percussion music - it's fun, interactive and noisy! 

Storytimes are aimed at children aged 2 years and older and with parents and carers.  Stories are chosen with the age group in mind and are short, engaging and fun. The aim is to encourage children to begin to concentrate and listen to stories as well as respond and build vocabulary.

 

Sessions take place during school term time, at 10.30 am - 11.00 am in the Children's Library.

Dates

Rhymetime restarts 6th Jan and fortnightly thereafter till end March
Storytime restarts 13th Jan and fortnightly thereafter till end March

 

U3A Epsom and Ewell Flower Arranging

Two groups meet monthly, Group 1 on the third Tuesday and Group 2 on the fourth Friday each month.  Talks cover the basic principles of flower arranging and include practical exercises based on the discussions.  For further information:

Telephone: 020 8391 1116
Email: dandp@blueyonder.co.uk
Website: https://u3asites.org.uk

Tuesdays 2.30 pm - 4.00 pm (Group 1)

Fridays 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm (Group 2)

Stoneleigh Job Club

A community job club for all ages, free to join, run by trained volunteer coaches.  You can book-your-face-to-face-1-1-or-remote-coaching-session-here or just drop in!
For more details call 07941 231072 or email stoneleighjobclub@gmail.com

Stoneleigh Job Club can also be found on:

Web: www.stoneleighjobclub.co.uk
Facebook: Stoneleighjobclub
Twitter: @stoneleighjobc

Tuesdays: 10.00 am - 12.00 noon

Reading Groups

For book lovers who enjoy meeting like-minded readers and talking about the books they've read, and for people who like the challenge of discovering books they wouldn't normally choose.

There are three reading groups and all of them meet approximately every six weeks. 

The adult groups are free to join but there is a nominal charge each time they meet (£1.00 - £1.50) to cover the cost of book reservations.  Two books are reviewed at each meeting.

The junior book group is free, fun and there are cookies!

FSL Book Club

For further information email friendsstoneleighlib@gmail.com 
(please state "FSL Book Club" in the subject/title).

Thursdays: 2.30 pm - 3.30 pm

2025 meeting dates:
30th January
13th March
24th April
5th June
17th July
28th August
9th October
20th November 

Stoneleigh Reading Group

For further information email friendsstoneleighlib@gmail.com (please state "Stoneleigh Reading Group" in the subject/title).

Fridays: 2.30 pm - 3.30 pm

2025 meeting dates:
21st February
11th April
30th May
18th July
12th September
31st October
12th December 

Beyond the Book - Junior Group

Join us for an exciting adventure at the Beyond the Book Club at Stoneleigh Community Library, where young readers in Years 3-6 can explore the magical world of stories every 4-6 weeks on Saturday afternoons. Run by the Friends of Stoneleigh Library, this free club offers so much more than just reading - you'll get to talk to real authors and illustrators, create amazing artwork, review brand-new books before they're even published, and make friends who share your love of reading!

For further information and to book, parents/carers please email stlibraryops@gmail.com (please state "Beyond the Book Group" in the subject/title).
Numbers are limited, so please book a place in advance.

Saturdays: 2.00 pm - 3.30 pm

Next meeting date: Saturday 18th January 2025 2.00 pm - 3.30 pm

The current book is The Day I Fell into a Fairytale by Ben Miller.
Copies are available to pick up at the library - ask at the desk.

2025 meeting dates:
22nd February
29th March
26th April
31st May
28th June

Vegan monthly meet-up

An informal event to meet others and share some vegan food.
Tea and coffee-making facilities are available.

For more information contact Philippa Kay at Philippakay@live.co.uk

Fridays: 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm

Next meeting date:
TBA

Friday Art Friends

An informal painting group that meets every Friday. For further information, telephone:
020 8393 1209

Fridays: 10.00 am - 12.00 noon

Lodestone – Monthly Meditation & Reflection Group

A monthly session for those who want to “step off the treadmill” for a short time, and put all their immediate stresses, responsibilities and pressures on the back burner.

Each session begins with a gentle introduction before short readings, from philosophical, poetical and spiritual works, interspersed with music. Those willing to read can do so. Each month has a theme. There is an opportunity for the group to share comments/thoughts/questions with each other.

First Monday of the month: 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm

Library Meeting Room – (enter at the back of the library)

Upcoming meeting dates:
Monday 6th January Hope
Monday 3rd February Purpose
Monday 3rd March Women
Monday 7th April Recharging
Monday 5th May Wellness
Monday 2nd June Change
Monday 7th July Joy

For booking and/or further information: shiva.finch@btinternet.com

All prepared and structured – you don’t have to do anything except listen and relax!

Voluntary contributions (£2 - £5) are welcomed. Tea, coffee and biscuits served.

Aims and Goals: to relax, recharge and become more sensitised to the elevated qualities of each day and not be drowned by the mundane. Hopefully, this will allow you to be more resilient and equipped to manage your daily stresses.

These are not drop-in sessions, you will need to book in advance.

Stoneleigh Library Lego Club 

Our lego table is very popular with children and their families.  It's set out in the library's children's section every Saturday from 10.30 am until 3.30 pm, available for everyone to enjoy.  We also have a basket of Duplo for younger children.

For children and families who want a challenge to create something amazing, there is a Free Lego club with a huge selection of Lego to choose from once a month.  The club is aimed at families with children aged 5-12.  Duplo is available for younger children. Meetings are held in the Community Room on the 1st Saturday of the month, from 10.30 am to 11.30 am, with a different theme each month for our creations and constructions.

Next meeting date:TBA

Children under 8 years old must be accompanied by a parent/carer.
These are drop-in sessions, with no need to book in advance.

This is an opportunity for everyone to enjoy being creative together - with the help of picture instructions for building suggested models.  The instructions can be taken away afterwards, for participants to perfect their creations at home, with their own Lego.

Young People's Chess Club

Our Chess Club meets on the second Saturday of the month (except for Christmas and the School Summer Holiday months) from 2.30 pm - 3.30 pm in the Community Room.

The informal sessions give children an opportunity to have fun playing and learning about chess together and to share tips and strategies on how to improve their game. Beginners are also very welcome.

Chess Club is for 8 to 16-year-olds. Children aged 7 are welcome to join in but will need an adult to stay with them.  The sessions are supervised by one of our adult volunteers, sometimes helped by young volunteers aged 14 - 17 years.

Pre-booking is not necessary, just come along and join in.

It's a FREE club with FREE refreshments for the children.

Saturdays: 2.30 pm - 3.30 pm

Upcoming meeting dates:
11th January
15th February
8th March
12th April